How to Master Your TV (Because Winter Still Won't Let You Do Anything Else)

Remember the good ol' days of melting into your couch and channel-surfing until your eyes glazed over? Now cut to today, when even the simple act of turning on the TV has become a technological puzzle. There are so many ways to watch: You can have old-fashioned cable; a streaming box, which connects you to services like Netflix and Hulu Plus (a "smart TV" does the same); or a digital video recorder, like TiVo, which allows you to record cable and, in some cases, access streaming services as well. Confused yet? I talked to Carley Knobloch, a Los Angeles–based technology expert, for tips to figuring out which is right for you.

Cut the cord—or not. "People who watch sports or like to channel-surf may not be ready to go without cable. Searching through Netflix menus is more involved than plopping down on the couch and clicking between House Hunters International and a Real Housewives marathon. But if you find that you're watching content readily available through streaming services, you may be ready to cancel cable. And to make sure you don't miss anything, you can download the BuddyTV Guide app, which keeps track of what you like to watch and which services you have—Netflix, Hulu Plus, HBO Go—and sends alerts to your phone when your shows are on."

Find the best box. "The major players are Apple TV, Roku, and Amazon Fire TV. Apple TV is the only box that gives you access to your iTunes purchases (as well as to Netflix, Hulu Plus, etc.), but you can't get direct access to things like Amazon's original series. Roku has a huge selection—over 1,800 channels, including PBS, YouTube, Netflix, and Spotify—but all that choice can be overwhelming. If you're already paying for Amazon Prime, Amazon Fire TV gives you tons of free instant video."

Go small. "If you just can't deal with one more box, consider a streaming stick, which looks like a USB drive and plugs into your TV; this is the easiest way to turn a TV into a smart TV. The sticks, such as those made by Roku and Amazon, connect you to the majority of what's on their streaming boxes for about half the price. Sticks connect by Wi-Fi—not directly into your modem with an Ethernet cable—so if your signal wanes, you might have glitchy streaming or longer load times."

Play on. "Gaming consoles also let you stream television programming without buying any extra hardware, but since the focus is on games, not TV, they probably aren't going to be on the cutting edge of new content. For example, when HBO launches standalone streaming, it may not be available right away on game consoles."

Watch it live. "If you do cut the cord but still want to catch the Oscars or the State of the Union, consider a digital antenna, like the Winegard FlatWave, which lets you watch network television. Before you get one, check tvfool.com to find out which local channels you'll be able to pick up based on your address."

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